Chapter 663 The Siege pt 8 (1/2)
”THE SEARCH GOES ON, SISTERS!”
”WE SEEK!”
”Oh no you don't! Retreat now! That's an order!”
Brendant waved her antennae threateningly at the 'Immortals' and their reckless leader.
”Leeroy! Get your metal covered carapace back to the gate! The enemy has pulled back and so are you!”
It was never a good idea to give the misguided armoured soldier a chance to 'misinterpret' her orders. Brendant watched like a hawk as the heavy a.s.sault ants begrudgingly turned themselves around, putting their backs to the retreating enemy and dragging themselves back to the gate. Healers swarmed over the ants already, tending to the numerous, near fatal wounds that covered them.
Even from where she stood, Brendant could hear the medics taunting the survivors.
”Ooo. That's a rough wound, nearly enough to kill you, wasn't it? Good thing you survived!”
”Just a few centimetres to the left and you'd have been done. Look at the scoring in the carapace next to your eye! Punched right through the armour it did. Not a problem though, you'll be back to full health in just a few hours.”
The healers continued to bait and mock their charges all the way back to the gates where the immortals moved toward the foundries established just inside where their armour could undergo an emergency refit. No doubt Smithant was already bas.h.i.+ng the exhausted soldiers over the head with her hammer, lamenting the damage done to her precious armour. The moniker 'immortals' had run amazingly true over the duration of the siege, only a single member had perished in the fighting so far. The others had been unsure whether to curse or praise their sister for her misfortune, but they had gathered for a solemn vigil as the soldier had been peeled from her armour and laid to rest.
Though the tunnel before the gate was now almost totally bare, still, the council member did not turn back. There was still one more warrior of the Colony yet to return.
”How is she?” the soldier asked one of the nearby mages.
The two of them watched the great bear as it drew deep, measured breaths. Each exhalation sounded like a gale and blew dust and earth into a small whirlwind in front of the huge monster's face.
”She is coming back to herself more slowly after each battle. We are growing concerned for her wellbeing.”
Sarah, the friend of the Colony had been instrumental in holding back the golgari on this side of the nest, but more and more the ants were becoming worried for her state of mind. A team of ants combed over her frame, cleaning and soothing her as she slowly reclaimed her sense of self from the fury that seized her during battle.
”She must not partic.i.p.ate in the next clash, preferably the next two. Tell her the council has ordered that she rest herself.”
The mage twitched her antennae.
”I will tell her, but she we will not like it. She wants to help,” the mage hesitated, ”and I believe that part of her yearns for this state. She wants to fight.”
”But we cannot allow her back into a state she once rejected fighting on our behalf. Be sure to tell her what I said.”
Without the bear on their side, the next clashes would be far more difficult, but it was necessary. The other side was holding against the more powerful Legion without the a.s.sistance of a tier six behemoth like Sarah, though they did have the Eldest, they would have to make do here. Weary and filled with a thousand worries, Brendant finally retreated behind the gate and returned to the embrace of the nest once more.
Thousands of ants swarmed here, each with a specific job to do. Triage was taking place in the field hospital as the many wounded were tended to. The most grievously injured would be s.h.i.+fted to the dedicated facilities as soon as they were able to be moved, whereas the others would heal on the spot. A bit of Bioma.s.s, magic and regeneration fluid all they needed to repair their wounds.
”How goes it?” came a scent from the left.
”Wills? It goes as it goes, I'm afraid.”
The scout, clung to the roof, nodded her antennae in acknowledgement. The enemy had been repelled four times from the gate so far, but the cost was higher than they would like. Still, they were holding, which was all they needed to do. So far the foe had managed to reach the gate twice and inflict significant damage to the metal before they had been pushed back. Eventually they would smash through and the Colony would be forced to retreat to the second, and final layer of defence.